PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT, INC. AWARDED $100,000 FROM THE PERSHING SQUARE FOUNDATION
New York, NY (December 9, 2013) – Today, Practice Makes Perfect, the New York City-based nonprofit dedicated to providing underprivileged students with the tools and guidance needed to develop and succeed, was awarded a $100,000 grant from The Pershing Square Foundation. The grant will allow Practice Makes Perfect to grow to support 1,000 students this summer, adding three new staff members and improving their curriculum and programming.
Through a comprehensive six-week summer enrichment program, Practice Makes Perfect has worked with hundreds of students in Harlem, Long Island City, and Bedford-Stuyvesant area to better prepare and engage them for the new school year.
“We are honored to receive the gracious donation from The Pershing Square Foundation,” said Karim Abouelnaga, CEO and founder of Practice Makes Perfect. “The tremendous support will allow us to improve and enhance our curriculum and programming while expanding our efforts to impact students all across New York City.”
“We fund innovative organizations with the ability and vision to bring about a major and lasting impact to important social issues – organizations that can really help improve the lives of those that need it most,” said Paul Bernstein, CEO of The Pershing Square Foundation. “Practice Makes Perfect’s work with underprivileged students has been inspiring and we are excited to help them achieve even more.”
Practice Makes Perfect believes all children have the potential to thrive, but not all have access to the resources necessary to do so. In addition to providing a daily academic focused program, Practice Makes Perfect utilizes the “near-peer” model, pairing high-achieving older students with struggling younger students from the same inner-city neighborhoods to foster lasting relationships and shared growth.
Practice Makes Perfect recently joined the newly launched New York City based nonprofit incubator, Beespace. Founded by philanthropist, Marissa Sackler, Beespace provides the necessary support, including office space and a suite of shared services, to foster the next generation of influential nonprofits. Practice Makes Perfect is one of three nonprofits to join Beespace.
About Practice Makes Perfect, Inc. Practice Makes Perfect is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2011 by six Cornell students—three of whom graduated from two of New York City’s most struggling public high schools. The organization was created on the strong belief that all children—regardless of race or socioeconomic status—have an equal potential to compete intellectually in our society. PMP achieves this through a comprehensive six-week summer enrichment program and engaging students to better prepare them for the next school year. For more information about PMP, visit practicemakesperfect.org
About The Pershing Square Foundation The Pershing Square Foundation, based in New York, was founded in December 2006 by Karen and Bill Ackman. Bill is the CEO and Portfolio Manager of Pershing Square Capital Management, L.P. The Pershing Square Foundation has committed $225 million in grants and social investments to support exceptional leaders and innovative organizations that tackle important social issues and deliver scalable and sustainable impact. To learn more, visit pershingsquare.wpengine.com.
Practice Makes Perfect Contact:
Practice Makes Perfect Press Info@PracticeMakesPerfect.org The Pershing Square Foundation Contact:
James Frayne JFrayne@Rubenstein.com